Health care wait times increasing, as Liberals close beds and cut hospital funding

During Question Period today, Ontario NDP Health Critic France Gélinas called on the Wynne government to stop cutting health care in Ontario, as the Auditor General confirmed that people are waiting longer in emergency rooms and for surgeries. 

“It’s getting harder to access health care when families need it,” said Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt. “After years of cuts and layoffs in our hospitals, people are waiting up to 37 hours in the Emergency Room. After years of bed closures, the Auditor saw people on stretchers in hallways, because our hospitals are dangerously overcrowded.  And after years of budget cuts to our hospitals,  the Auditor found that long wait times for surgeries are putting patients at risk. 

“How can this Liberal government keep failing the patients of Ontario by forcing people to wait longer and longer for the health care they need?” Gélinas asked.

The Auditor General’s report is an indictment of the Premier’s record on health care.

“This Liberal government hasclosed mental health beds, leaving people in distress waiting, without help, for months on end.  This Liberal government has squeezed hospitals budget to the point that

the Auditor says nearly 60 percent of hospitals are deferring surgeries to balance their budget,” Gélinas said.  “And while this Liberal government claimsto publish wait times for surgeries, the Auditor found that the real wait times are actually months longer than this government claims.  The Auditor actually said the information is ‘misleading’ for patients.”

“Why is this Liberal government cutting health care, closing hospital beds, and publishing wait times that are misleading?” Gélinas asked.